You Don't Have to Sip Champagne to Love Art Basel

MIAMI BEACH — There’s plenty to see at Art Basel even if you’ve never been to an art museum or sipped champagne at a crowded gallery in your life.

Art Basel is an international art fair with three shows staged annually in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. The Miami Beach event runs from Dec. 1 to Nov. 4 and coincides with Miami's Art Week.

Each show is organized into sectors which showcase modern and contemporary artworks by established and newly emerging artists.

The 2016 event marks the fourth year that Nicholas Baume, director and chief curator of Public Art Fund, New York, will curate the popular Public at Art Basel in Miami Beach under the theme, "Ground Control." It showcases more than 20 site-specific works by established and emerging artists from 10 countries.

Produced in collaboration with The Bass for the past six years, the public sector will transform Miami Beach’s Collins Park into an outdoor exhibition space with significant works by Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Adamo, Jean-Marie Appriou, Eric Baudart, Huma Bhabha, Yoan Capote, Claudia Comte, Matías Duville, Camille Henrot, Glenn Kaino, Alicja Kwade, Sol LeWitt, Wagner Malta Tavares, Tony Matelli, William J. O'Brien, Anthony Pearson, Norbert Prangenberg, Ugo Rondinone, Tony Tasset and Erwin Wurm.

This year's theme was inspired by the late David Bowie and highlights ways in which artists invent and imagine new kinds of space: physical, social and psychic.

"Interpreting ‘Ground Control’ literally, the works will invite viewers into new relationships with familiar surroundings and reframe Collins Park into a site for  experiences with contemporary art," according to organizers.

Several works will challenge how visitors experience their surroundings through repurposed everyday objects.

Eric Baudart’s (b. 1972) ‘Atmosphère’ (2016) will feature a clear tank filled with yellow peanut oil, in which a fan slowly rotates. The reconfigured relationship between materials and scale is designed to physically overwhelm the viewer.

David Adamo (b. 1979) will immortalize miscellaneous objects in a series of small bronze sculptures depicting such items as citrus fruits, flip flops, styrofoam cups and a sandwich from La Sandwicherie, the iconic Miami Beach fastfood stand.

Similarly, ‘Malpertuis’ (2016) by multimedia artist Wagner Malta Tavares (b. 1964) will situate a typical 19th century outdoor lamp into the park landscape. While it will appear unremarkable during the day, the lamp will begin to glow as darkness falls, revealing that the lamp has been created from a light-absorbing fluorescent resin.

Alicja Kwade (b. 1979) will dismantle and reassemble a bicycle to create ‘Reise ohne Ankunft (Mercier)’ (2016), bent to form a perfect circle, suggesting a surreal never-ending journey.

‘Naturaleza Urbana’ (2012) by Yoan Capote (b. 1977) addresses urbanization and the clash between man and nature. The installation will comprise a large pair of bronze handcuffs and a key that will physically shackle together the bases of two trees – one large with a handcuff tight around its trunk, while the other is small enough that the closed handcuff will circle the base without touching it.

The juxtaposition of the natural and industrial will continue with ‘Arena Parking’ (2016) by Matías Duville (b. 1974), a topographical installation created from pressed asphalt with a large-scale forged steel ring in its center.

Jean-Marie Appriou’s (b. 1986) installation ‘Mirage’ (2016) will feature four aluminum cast sculptures of camels standing on their own reflections, as if in a mirage. Measuring nearly 3 meters, each camel will be almost life-size — significantly larger than previous work by the artist.

Geometric forms will also feature prominently in this year’s Public sector, with three large baked-enamel on aluminum structures from Sol LeWitt’s (b. 1928, d. 2007) series of ‘Incomplete Open Cubes’ (1974/90), as well as ‘156 Triangles and their Demonstration’ (2016), a monumental wall construction covered in bright acrylic geometric patterns by Claudia Comte (b. 1983). Two large sculptures in bronze, iron and copper by Camille Henrot (b. 1978) — ‘Contrology’ (2016) and ‘Dropping the Ball’ (2016) — will combine both figurative and abstract elements. Part of an ongoing series by the artist, the sculptures reflect the emotional and intellectual state of the first day of the week, Monday, when the mind may be both melancholic and hopeful.

The human form will reoccur throughout the sector, including Glenn Kaino’s (b. 1972) ‘Invisible Man’ (2016), a figure standing on a pedestal with his hands raised. The cast aluminum form will prompt viewers to consider how racial identity and race relations intersect with cultural hegemony, architecture and public art.

Tony Matelli’s (b. 1971) ‘Jesus’ (2016) will present a familiar figure cast in concrete, adorned with several painted bronze avocados.

In ‘10 Standing Figures’ (2000) by Magdalena Abakanowicz (b. 1930), a group of 10 imposing, cast bronze figures will be arranged in rows to occupy a space on the lawn of Collins Park.

Public will debut William J. O’Brien’s (b. 1975) first-ever outdoor sculpture, ‘Untitled (The Protectors)’ (2016), which references Mahakala, a wrathful deity in Tibetan Buddhism.

Huma Bhabha (b. 1962) will present another totemic figure, ‘Friend’ (2015), a large-scale bronze sculpture cast from styrofoam, that stands more than two meters tall.

Anthony Pearson (b. 1969) envisions his work as drawings in space. Created by transposing a sketch into a photograph and then into a sculpture, Pearson’s monumental ‘Untitled (Transmission)’ (2016) series is comprised of steel-cut sandblasted white Portland cement forms that are covered with a steel patina.

The inclusion of Norbert Prangenberg’s (b. 1949, d. 2002) large-scale outdoor glazed ceramic sculpture ‘Figur’ (1999) in this year’s show represents a defining moment for the sculptor as it is the first time his monumental sculpture is exhibited outside of Europe.

Tony Tasset’s (b. 1960) monumental ‘Arrow Sculpture’ (2016) will depict a pair of larger than life arrows, one pointing up and the other pointing down. The largest piece from Tasset’s ongoing series, the arrows will be painted in bright, contrasting colors meant to reference the art market and changing tastes.

Erwin Wurm's ‘Big Disobedience’ (2016), inspired by Henry David Thoreau, will be another larger than life work. This piece will feature two figures that utilize clothing in place of the body to question societal obedience to political and social correctness.

Recently rebranded as The Bass, Miami Beach’s contemporary art museum will present a towering work by Ugo Rondinone (b. 1964). Consisting of five brightly painted boulders stacked in the form of a contemporary cairn, ‘Miami Mountain’ (2016) finds its geological inspiration from ‘hoodos’, rock formations of North American badlands that have endured time and nature.

The opening night performances will likewise extend themes from Baume’s curatorial premise. Davide Balula’s (b. 1978) interactive performance will incorporate the preparation and distribution of a garlic infused beverage. Musicians, who will join guests in drinking the cocktail throughout the evening, will be positioned in the crowd with brass instruments to randomly create human-like sounds. Elsewhere in the park, Naama Tsabar (b. 1982) will stage a new iteration of her ongoing Composition series. The coordinated actions of a sculptural-live field of musicians will create a dense yet not entirely cacophonous musical sound field. Legendary drag performer, DJ and founder of Wigstock Lady Bunny (b. 1962) will transform Collins Park Rotunda into a theatrical spaceship-disco tribute to David Bowie, while Rob Pruitt (b. 1964) will convert a vintage car into an all-in-one barbecue bar and lounge.

The exhibition in Collins Park will last through Sunday, Dec. 4, although a selection of artworks will remain installed until March 15, 2017 as part of 'The Bass Projects'.

Tours will be offered daily at 2 p.m. starting from the on-site info point. No reservation ix required. Private, group and school-group tours will be offered by reservation.

Since its inauguration 15 years ago, Art Basel has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Visual Arts Department to expose local students to the world of art.

Several events highlighting the District’s commitment to teach the arts are scheduled during the week.

Among them:

Thursday, Dec. 1 — 4:30-5:30 p.m. — RAW Project media tours of José de Diego Middle finished murals and Eneida M. Hartner Elementary’s work-in-progress/finished murals — Jose de Diego Middle School — 3100 NW 5th Ave, Miami.

In 2014 and 2015 the Raw Project, a Miami-based grassroots effort aimed at improving schools through urban art and community engagement, brought more than 80 artists to cover the walls of José de Diego Middle and Eneida M. Hartner Elementary.

Friday, Dec. 2 — noon — Nearly 600 M-DCPS students will be attending Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Entrance B, 1700 Convention Center Dr.

Participating schools include Miami Springs Senior, Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, Miami Sunset Senior, Eugenia B. Thomas K-8 Center, John A. Ferguson Senior, Felix Varela Senior, South Miami Senior, and Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer.

Friday, Dec. 2 – 2-6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 – 12-4 p.m. - The Tommy Hilfiger team partners with Autism Speaks - 616 Collins Ave., Miami Beach

American artist, Jenny Andrews-Anderson led the group of young artists last month in an art lesson introducing contemporary acrylic painting techniques. The delighted artists applied vibrant colors on small personal canvases and large collaborative canvas hearts worthy of Basel.

The students’ hefty-sized framed art will be on display at the South Beach Tommy Hilfiger store, and visitors can enjoy the available photo booth to take their photos and create their own backgrounds or choose from different pieces of art including some created by the students. The store will also be donating 25 percent of all sales up to $10,000 to Autism Speaks during this time period.

Museum of Art + Design (MOA+D) will present Q & A, Nine Contemporary Cuban Artists from through Jan. 15, 2017 in conjunction with Art Basel.

This exhibition of nine contemporary Cuban artists working in various media highlights artistic practices that reflect a polyvalent vision of Cuban reality today.

Organized by Havana-based curator Cristina Vives, Q & A includes artists Alexandre Arrechea, Alejandro Campins, Javier Castro, Humberto Díaz, Fidel García, Alejandro González, Lorena Gutiérrez, Tony Labat, and Fernando Rodríguez, the majority of whom live and work in Cuba.

Addressing their country’s national and political myths, they examine history, failed ideologies, corruption, censorship, and the manipulation of public opinion. Rather than a complacent view, Q & A, Nine Contemporary Cuban Artists emphasizes these artists’ critically aware point of view, acknowledging the existence of a line between art and political activism that they cannot cross without the risk of reprisal from Cuban authorities.

Deliberately eschewing familiar tropes, the exhibition provides an opportunity to examine the questions of how Cubans see themselves and how they think the world sees them.

The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, photographs, and video installations. Alejandro Campins’ monumental, enigmatic paintings of abandoned sites mirror the changing urban and rural landscapes of his native land. His evocative large-scale canvases picture haunting mise-en-scènes of impermanence and lost identity.

Humberto Díaz creates intricate installations that range from discreet interventions to ambitious immersive environments. He generates tension between the viewer and the space inhabited by the works, which can be both visually and spatially discomfiting. Díaz presents situations in which “the excess of power...generates an atmosphere of surveillance and control”.

Lorena Gutiérrez’s site-specific installation considers white-collar embezzlement, while Alejandro González’s black-and-white photographs reenact specific moments of Cuban history, depicting the exacerbated dogmatism and bureaucratization of government-orchestrated official mass meetings during Cuba’s Gray Five Year Period (1970–75).

Power and control underlie the work of Fidel García, also known as Micro X. Experimenting with old and new technologies, he bases his projects on the observation and analysis of the structures of a particular context—which he calls “the system”—that he later deconstructs, conceptually intervening in multiple “systems” in public space. His work Collectivization (2015) is a light installation of data graphs representing research into cases of public corruption in Cuba during the last twenty-five years.

Driven by an anthropological gaze, Javier Castro’s video I Am Not Afraid of Eternity depicts people in one of Havana’s most marginal neighborhoods. He records “social performances,” the survival skills of Cubans in everyday life, recording what he encounters with as little intervention as possible.

Q & A: Nine Contemporary Cuban Artists was organized by the Inter-American Development Bank Staff Association Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., where a version of the exhibition opened in Dec. 2015.

Patch will continue to update this article throughout Art Basel. Check back often for new information.

If you plan to attend Art Basel, use the following links to make the most of your experience:

Art Basel

• Dec. 1 - Dec. 4, Miami Beach Convention Center: 1901 Convention Center Drive.

Design Miami

• Nov. 30 - Dec 4, Meridian Avenue and 19 Street.

Untitled, Miami Beach

• Nov. 30 - Dec. 4, Ocean Drive and 12 Street.

Pulse Miami Beach

• Dec. 1 - Dec. 4, 2016 Indian Beach Park: 4601 Collins Avenue

Scope

• Nov. 29 - Dec. 4, 2016 Ocean Drive and 8 Street

The City of Miami Beach, along with the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works, will be providing free shuttle service between Midtown Miami and the Miami Beach Convention Center.

In addition, the City of Miami Beach will be providing free shuttle service along three additional routes:

• Inner Loop: Providing connectivity between art fairs in South and Middle Beach.
• Outer Loop: Providing direct connectivity between Convention Center and the park-and-ride facility at Haulover Park.
• Venetian Loop: Providing direct connectivity between Convention Center and the park-and-ride facility at Omni garage.

Click here to view the full routes and schedules

All shuttle routes will operate from Nov. 30 - Dec. 4 with approximately 15 minute frequency of service on each of the routes. Hours of shuttle operation are:

• 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. every day except Sunday.
• 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Art Basel.